Author: Valeria Suing

Project Proposal: Gaming Night 

Project Concept

The inspiration for this project comes from my friends and our biweekly meetings via zoom to stay connected and play various games. Most of the games that we play require either a dice or a timer and it’s usually a burden to look for these objects. This is why I decided to make a sweater that will have a built-in dice and timer located in the forearm so it’s viewable to the user. 

The results of the dice and timer will be displayed in a seven segment display. To show results for the dice the user will have to shake their arm. To start the timer they will have to press a button. 

Check out the final project in the link below: 

https://youtu.be/z627VfIl3rY

Objective 

Throughout the semester I really enjoyed working with LEDs and the CPX itself as an output. Nonetheless, I wanted to challenge myself with this Open Project and I decided to use a segment display, which I have never used before. My goal was to learn a little bit more in depth how coding and physical computer works, and how that can translate to a wearable project. 

I also wanted to make something useful and fun that will help me connect with my friends and share with them my new found passion for electronics and wearables! 

Parts List 

1x Adafruit 7-segment LED backpack 

1x Circuit Playground Express

4x male/female jumper wires (preferred) 

Piece of felt

Conductive thread

Non-conductive thread

Needle

Silicone gun and glue

Soldering wire and iron

Alligator clips 

USB cable

Yarn 

Crochet hook

Progress

The Adafruit 7-segment display requires soldering. So, the first thing that I did was to learn how to solder. Here’s a quick video of how I did it: 

https://youtu.be/Dv8jDzkjTq0

After that step, I connected my display into a breadboard so I could test it. I had to download the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express and the Adafruit LED backpack segment display libraries into the Arduino IDE. This helped me gain to different examples on how to use the display. I also used this schematic for reference:

After a lot of research I was able to find some resources that helped me with the code. I had to make use of different examples from the library such as the hello accelerometer and hello sound. After a few trials and errors, here’s the final code:

This is my first time using the Arduino IDE for the CPX and I’m also a beginner in Arduino. Here’s a quick video of some of the trials:

https://youtu.be/_kZEKAQc6G4

After getting it to work in the breadboard, it was time to sew it in a piece of felt. To connect the segment display to the conductive thread I used a male / male wire that I had to strip to sew it together. Ideally this would have been better with a male / female wire. 

The circuit looked like this:

To cover the circuit I decided to start crocheting. Once I finished I sewed the felt to the crochet and I opened a hole for the display. I later attached the crochet to the sweater. 

Finally I added the designs!

Initial sketches

Originally I wanted to add a necklace for the timer but I realized that the segment display will work just as good for it. I also wanted to have the micro controller in the forearm so it will allow the user to shake their arm to roll the dice. This gesture was important to me since when you have a physical dice you shake them first. I wanted to simulate that experience, and that’s why I decided to change the location of CPX. 

Final Sketch

I decided to also add sound everytime the user rolls the dice since I was having trouble in the trials figuring out if it did roll or not.

Circuit Diagram

Final 

Reflection

Overall, the project was really fun to make. The sweater felt comfortable and light and I was able to enjoy it with my friends. Here’s a picture of our game night: 

To make this sweater better I would try to crochet the hole already so I don’t have to cut through it. I would also make it bigger and I would love to use velcro so its size becomes adjustable and the circuit is removable, making the sweater washable. 

I wanted to incorporate a battery but unfortunately Creatron was closed due to lockdown and I wasn’t able to get the battery on time. Nonetheless, since all of my meetings are online I had no trouble connecting it to the computer and it never bothered me during my games. 

I would love to keep exploring how to code in Arduino and keep making wearables!

References

Adafruit LED Backpacks Assembly. (2012, July 29). Adafruit Learning System. https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-led-backpack/0-dot-56-seven-segment-backpack-assembly

Arduino Setup. (2012, July 29). Adafruit Learning System. https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-led-backpack/0-dot-56-seven-segment-backpack-arduino-setup

Circuit Playground D6 Dice. (2016, December 16). Adafruit Learning System. https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-d6-dice/random-or-not

Dungeons and Dragons Dice Gauntlet – learn.sparkfun.com. (2019). Sparkfun. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/dungeons-and-dragons-dice-gauntlet

ESP32: How to Setup Adafruit 7 Segment LED Display w/I2C Backpack. (2020, April 18). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESo_gSL9Fr4

Fidget Spinner Tachometer. (2017, July 8). Adafruit Learning System. https://learn.adafruit.com/fidget-spinner-tachometer/hardware

Interfacing a 4-Digit 7-Segment Display. (2019). Arduino Project Hub. https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/Tr3v3n_Jaganath/interfacing-a-4-digit-7-segment-display-8506ca

Wearable Hand Washing Timer

Angelina Do (3182746)

Valeria Suing (3182717)

For the video tutorial, please click on the link below:

https://youtu.be/M7-XyZi-37A

Although washing your hands has always been important, the current state of the world has certainly brought to our attention the correct ways to do this action. According to the CDC: 

“To prevent the spread of germs during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should also wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean hands BEFORE and AFTER:

• Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Touching your mask
• Entering and leaving a public place
• Touching an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens. ” (CBC, 2020)

We can all remember some trends people came up with a year ago to make sure you scrub your hands for 20 seconds. However, singing your favourite song’s chorus repeatedly gets annoying, so we have the solution for you!

Introducing our Wearable Hand Washing Timer. This simple tutorial will teach you how to build this simple timer with materials that you probably already have at home. Let’s do this! 

Materials Required

From the class kit, you will need: 

• Circuit Playground Express
• Micro USB cable 

From your nearest crafting store, or your home, you will need:

• Felt or any other non-conductive fabric
• Scissors
• Non-conductive thread 
• Needle
• Cotton balls 
• Decorative elements (optional!)

Instructions

1. The first step is to download the following code: https://makecode.com/_e4q80RRU2c91 
2. Then you should connect your CPX to your computer via a USB cable and upload the code.
3. Test it out and start building your wearable.
4. Cut your felt or fabric in an approximately 17cm x 6cm rectangle.
5. Attach your CPX in the middle of the rectangle with the non-conductive thread.                                                                                                                                                     
6. Diffuse the lights using the cotton balls. You can sew them into the fabric so they can hold their place. Make sure to leave some space to connect the CPX to power.
7. Secure the forearm band, customize with decorative elements, connect to power and wash your hands!

Further Explanation 

This code contains different custom functions that use the CPX LEDs to interact with the user. 

This code was modified from this source: 

https://learn.adafruit.com/no-touch-hand-wash-timer-for-cpx-and-clue/overview

In “On start” we set the LED’s brightness to 10. Then we call the “blink” function to make the LEDs blink twice in green, and then we set them to “black” until the timer starts. The “blink” function is also used to make red LEDs blink once the timer is done. 

We were debating how to start the timer. Ideally, we would use a switch, but it had to be activated contactless for this purpose. After testing it in different ways, we decided to use “on tilt up” since it allowed us to start the timer without interfering with it later in the act of washing our hands (which was not the case with “on loud noise” or “on shake”). We also explored the opportunities to either use mapping or calibration, but it seemed to work best with just the set input instruction. 

Here’s a quick video of when we finally were able to find the best way to activate the timer:

https://youtu.be/mROeZlVvlzg

The timer starts by calling on two other custom functions. Function prep_countdown sets LEDs to cyan and green to indicate the user how the lights will function as a timer. Function countdown is the timer itself. For this, the function uses a counter and sets LEDs to either magenta or blue to indicate that a second has passed. We decided to add sound once the timer was done, along with the blinking of red lights. This allows the user to pay attention to washing their hands instead of staring at the timer all the time.

To customize the timer, the user could change the parameters when calling the function. In this case, we used 20 seconds since that is the recommended time to wash your hands. 

Overall, we had fun working on this project and exploring what we had at home to build this fun and useful wearable. 

References 

Adafruit. (2020, April 1). No-Touch Hand Wash Timer for Circuit Playground Express and CLUE. Adafruit Learning System. https://learn.adafruit.com/no-touch-hand-wash-timer-for-cpx-and-clue/overview

CDC. (2020). When and How to Wash Your Hands. Handwashing | CD https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

The Hangover Shirt

Concept & Objective 

Hangovers are rough, and if you have ever experienced one, you know the feeling of waking up full of regrets, with a major headache and an increased sensibility to loud noises.

To help you get through it, I present to you The Hangover Shirt. You can activate it by pressing a button and lights will get activated from loud noises. So instead of yelling everyone to be quiet, let your passive-aggressive shirt tell them!

Process

I started with a prototype of how the shirt will look like.

To test the circuit before sewing I used the alligator clips and from trial and error, I found a sound level that would react to only loud noises.

Since the wearable is meant to communicate with others, I decided to add another light to make it more noticeable.

For the code, I decided to use digital values of HIGH and LOW for the LEDs. This allowed the lights to be brighter and shut down completely when the environment is quiet.

Here’s a video of how I tested the lights using a YouTube video of Steve Carrell yelling: testing-lights-video

The Sewing Process:

I decided to glue the paper over the lights to diffuse them a little bit.

With the help of a plotter, I got the lettering in vinyl.

Parts List

• 2 LED Lights
• Conductive Thread
• 2 10k resistors
• CPX micro-controller
• Micro USB cable
• T-shirt
• Paper cut into a circle (I used an Aeropress filter)
• Glue gun
• Vinyl for lettering

Circuit Diagram

Final Product

For a quick video of how it works: img_8567

Reflection & Next Steps

Overall I had a lot of fun doing this project. My sewing skills definitely need to improve, this is where I had the most trouble. But hopefully, I’ll keep practicing and getting better.

I was debating whether to use lettering for my shirt or not. I was worried that the use of a phrase will weaken the communicative powers of the lights. In the end, I decided to use it since the lights and the lettering complement each other and it allows the t-shirt to speak on its own with no verbal explanation.

If I could revisit this project again I would maybe a switch rather than a button since it was a little uncomfortable to keep the button pressed for the lights to work. I would also sew the lights in a more creative way maybe adding more LEDs to form a circle. I think I would also add a protective layer for the conductive thread, I had to wear a shirt underneath so there won’t be any contact with the skin.

Of course loud sensitivity is not only for hangovers, this t-shirt can also apply for migraines or just for keeping a quiet environment to allow rest or even meditation.

Resources & Related Works

Resources for the prototype image:

Blank t-shirt template front and back. (2016, November 21). VectorStock. https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/blank-t-shirt-template-front-and-back-vector-11384899

Related Works:

VersaMe has a wearable for kids who are starting to speak and it acts as a word counter. This is related to my work since it interacts with sound as an input from the environment.

VersaMe. (2016, October 18). VersaMe Launches the Starling, the World’s First Word Counter for Babies. PS Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/versame-launches-the-starling-the-worlds-first-word-counter-for-babies-300346233.html

Another wearable that I found that uses sound as input is this tuner for your wear watch. It allows musicians to tune their instruments and is easy to carry around.

Summerson, C. (2015, January 28). atHandTuner Is A Wearable Instrument Tuner For Your Wear Watch, And It Works Really Well. Android Police. https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/01/28/athandtuner-wearable-instrument-tuner-wear-watch-works-really-well/

GlucTech: Low Glucose Warning Necklace

GlucTech is a necklace that can connect to a continuous glucose monitor via Bluetooth. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are used by people who have diabetes to control their glucose levels throughout the day. Low glucose levels can be dangerous, and they need immediate care. Most CGMs need to be scanned and don’t give any warnings for low glucose events. This is why GlucTech will turn on LED lights on its necklace pendant, warning the person wearing it to follow their usual treatment. Furthermore, there can be a possibility of creating a network of necklaces that can be used by close friends and family that can check on their loved ones and make sure they’re okay.

Drawings

Designs can be customized with different prints, so it blends with their clothes and make wearing the necklaces enjoyable.

There can also be a phone app that sets reminders and makes connecting with family and friends much easier.

Main User   vs.   Family & Friends

Paper Prototype

The pendant part of the necklace would be made out of wood, the chain would be made out of an e-textile that looks like a soft faux leather cord and the battery container could be made out of plastic covered with some fabric. This is to make the necklace comfortable and easy to wear. Pattern designs could be added to the wood with fabric.

This is a picture of me wearing it.

Material Mood Board

Process

The idea came from the Ideation Exercise where I chose the following set of random words: “necklace” “weak” & “care for someone”

Low glucose events can make a person feel weak and disoriented and a prompt warning can help with symptoms.

Similar Works

MiaoMiao: MiaoMiao is a smart reader for a CGM brand (Freestyle Libre). It works by attaching it on top of the sensor and connecting it with Bluetooth. They now have accessories such as watches that connect with the reader and gives warnings when glucose is off the charts.

Dexcom G6: Dexcom G6 is a CGM that offers warnings through their phone app with no need of scanning it to get readings.

Reference List: